Diamond Help - UK Buyer - Blue Nile vs BGD/WF Super Ideals?

[gerryb92]

Hello everyone, I've been a lurker for a while on the forum and recently decided to join as I'm in the market for a diamond engagement ring. (0.9-1.1Ct, D-G, VVS2-IF). Budget is around £7000 GBP - £8000 for the right diamond. (Up to approx $9200 (considering UK VAT)).

I've done significant research into many of the different vendors available to me, having originally been recommended Blue Nile from several friends. The advantages of Blue Nile are that they appear to offer diamonds at a cheaper rate (when comparing the 4C's) than BGD or Whiteflash, and I can pay by UK credit card too (which is my preferred payment method) as opposed to bank wire.

My biggest concern shopping with Blue Nile is that they do not offer Hearts and Arrows, ASET or Idealscope images of their diamonds, and thus the light performance characteristics are a bit unknown. I previously did like an 'Astor Ideal' cut diamond (now sold) on Blue Nile, but I contacted them for ASET images and they just pointed me at the GemEx report which I don't believe to be very useful. Even at that, the GemEx reports are only offered on the 'Astor Ideal' cuts and not on any other lines.

Light performance is something that is critical for me to understand before buying a diamond since becoming aware of 'super ideal' cuts.

Two of the diamonds I'm currently looking at, as an example (there are others), are as follows:

Blue Nile - 0.95Carat, G Color, IF Clarity

BGD - 0.9Carat, G Color, VVS2 Clarity

What do you think about these stones? Is it safe enough to choose a stone with nice proportions from Blue Nile, or should I really be looking to BGD/WF for guaranteed optimal light performance? Lastly - are 'hearts and arrows by BGD' like the diamond linked above considered to be 'super ideal' - or is this reserved for the likes of BGD Black and WF ACA?

I'd definitely be happy to look at any alternative diamonds if anybody has any suggestions!

Apologies for rambling - and thank you in advance!

G

 

[diamondhoarder]

Hello everyone, I've been a lurker for a while on the forum and recently decided to join as I'm in the market for a diamond engagement ring. (0.9-1.1Ct, D-G, VVS2-IF). Budget is around £7000 GBP - £8000 for the right diamond. (Up to approx $9200 (considering UK VAT)).

I've done significant research into many of the different vendors available to me, having originally been recommended Blue Nile from several friends. The advantages of Blue Nile are that they appear to offer diamonds at a cheaper rate (when comparing the 4C's) than BGD or Whiteflash, and I can pay by UK credit card too (which is my preferred payment method) as opposed to bank wire.

My biggest concern shopping with Blue Nile is that they do not offer Hearts and Arrows, ASET or Idealscope images of their diamonds, and thus the light performance characteristics are a bit unknown. I previously did like an 'Astor Ideal' cut diamond (now sold) on Blue Nile, but I contacted them for ASET images and they just pointed me at the GemEx report which I don't believe to be very useful. Even at that, the GemEx reports are only offered on the 'Astor Ideal' cuts and not on any other lines.

Light performance is something that is critical for me to understand before buying a diamond since becoming aware of 'super ideal' cuts.

Two of the diamonds I'm currently looking at, as an example (there are others), are as follows:

Blue Nile - 0.95Carat, G Color, IF Clarity

BGD - 0.9Carat, G Color, VVS2 Clarity

What do you think about these stones? Is it safe enough to choose a stone with nice proportions from Blue Nile, or should I really be looking to BGD/WF for guaranteed optimal light performance? Lastly - are 'hearts and arrows by BGD' like the diamond linked above considered to be 'super ideal' - or is this reserved for the likes of BGD Black and WF ACA?

I'd definitely be happy to look at any alternative diamonds if anybody has any suggestions!

Apologies for rambling - and thank you in advance!

G

Round diamonds are not my area of expertise but as a UK buyer with various buying experiences I can tell you that Blue Nile is one of the easiest and lowest risk of all the US vendors since you can purchase in GBP including VAT and if you need to return the stone for any reason you get a full refund with no need to reclaim the VAT separately from HMRC (which can be a bit of a nightmare).

Also the exchange rate offered by Bluenile tends to make the final purchase price a little more competitive, when compared with buying in USD from other vendors and then losing a little on exchange rates and currency conversion fees.

 

[gerryb92]

Hello Diamondhoarder - thanks for your reply. I agree - and this is why my preference would have been to buy from Blue Nile if possible (plus they will ship for free I believe). I'm just concerned that buying from there I won't get what I'm looking for ... at least not in my mind! They seem to only tell 'half the story' with the diamonds that they are selling, and I'm really looking for something spectacularly cut.

There is also the question of buying the diamond in a setting, as I believe this then makes it qualify for an extra 4% import duty on the whole purchase. Recently, this was a major advantage for Blue Nile, but as a result of Brexit I anticipate that even ordering from there would result in additional charges (they ship from ROI).

Lastly, as previously mentioned, the US vendors (BGD and WF) seem to want payment only by bank wire compared to Blue Nile's acceptance of UK credit cards. Payment via credit card would avoid even more charges up front (I'll get stung by paying in a foreign currency either way) in what is quickly becoming a very inflated transaction.

I guess my intention of the post was to get some perspective from PS'ers on whether buying a 'super ideal' cut would be worth the additional hassle and/or expense.

G

 

[gerryb92]

... and just to add, it appears that GIA stones sold via Blue Nile have certain characteristics rounded such as the crown angle. Maybe I'm overthinking it?

 

[Lisag103]

... and just to add, it appears that GIA stones sold via Blue Nile have certain characteristics rounded such as the crown angle. Maybe I'm overthinking it?

Hey Gerry, take a look at Layla diamonds and the London jeweler (Dovi) on IG. I contacted both when working on my upgrade and both were prompt to reply and being UK based you wouldn't have any customs issues etc. I didn't end up going with either as I went a different direction (lab diamond) but from my interactions with them it seems that they can source whatever spec you are after (particularly the London jeweler), they represented good value for money and have large followings with good reviews. Worth taking a look anyway as might be a good fit for you! Hope this helps, keep us posted!

 

[Austina]

Don’t forget you’ll pay import duty on anything purchased from the US.

 

[TripEx]

İd go with JA over BlueNile and WF over them both BGD seems to have alright stuff aswell
İ ended up going with JannPaul the selection process with them is amazing i felt like i was in store next to them
3+ hour video call on the computer examining the stones with asets, led lights this that very transparent.
İ recommend checking them out they will find something for your budget

 

[Snowdrop13]

You could look at Durham Rose. They are in the U.K. and supply Crafted by Infinity diamonds, which are superideals. They can also design a setting for you. They are pretty well set up to do online consultations at present. Otherwise I’d have no hesitation buying from Whiteflash, I’ve done it myself for a pendant stone.

Only you can decide if a superideal is worth it or not. It is hard to buy sight unseen, I agree. You have picked nice proportions on that BN stone above. Personally I would consider going as low as H colour, and the IF clarity is overkill, you are paying for something you can’t see. G/H VS2, maybe Si1 will be fine.

PS when looking at prices in dollars I just assume that will be the price in pounds after all the extra taxes are added!

An example, though there are several other choices,

Diamond | 1.030 ct H VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4292681

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.030 carat H color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4292681

www.whiteflash.com

 

[Tartansparkles]

OP, I purchased from WF in December and it was fairly simple, despite my reservations (first time purchase from this vendor, overseas etc). I too preferred the CC option (I felt it would give me more protection with my above concerns). In the end I did the wire transfer. It cost £8 for my bank to process and the funds were received by WF within 24hrs. The CC charges were going to be higher with a less favourable exchange rate (though the bank exchange rate was also poor). The shipping was seamless with the product arriving in less than 48 hours. I have also bought from Blue Nile, their shipping is free but returns are not (cost around £40 - something to be aware of). Good luck with your search.

 

[dk168]

CBIs can also be sourced from Diamondhouse of Antwerp - they have an office in London.

I bought my 1.19ct EC from them, selected in person at the office in Antwerp back in 2005, and visited their London office for a quick consultation about my mum's 1.96ct MRB.

Very nice people.

DK

 

[magpie2]

OP, I purchased from BN in December (delivery in January) and it was no problem at all.
The price shown, if you select the 'Ship to UK / Price in £' options is the end of the story. Though, contrary to what was my belief too, the diamonds appeared to come directly from Seattle to the UPS base in the UK, rather than via ROI. Two very nice .8+ diamonds for earrings turned up and look great.
I've also purchased from JA previously with some success. At that time I had a 1.25DVS2 diamond appraised in the US before being sent to UK - to avoid any 'Returns' aggravation - though I'm not sure that option is still available. Maybe someone can advise.
Anyway, the result was an outstanding performer, extremely close to H&A and with top numbers for all measurable characteristics. The H&A cut was just a fluke of course, but I think if you look carefully at the pics of the diamonds on the various sites and go off the proportions recommended here for 'Super ideals' you will be very likely to get a great diamond.
I've just ordered another stone from JA too. Although it's not here yet, the process appears to be going very smoothly and it should ship in the next day or so. 23% or so to add to the prices on the site for VAT and ID remember - and there's a Duty Calculator right at the bottom of their web page. Incidentally, they provided an IS image too when I asked about a specific stone, which might go some way to helping you decide if you've made a good choice.
I agree with a previous post about lowering your clarity levels for better value.
Personally, VVS2 - VS2 preferred though VS2 can have some less than 'Mind clean' inclusions (for me at least) even if you're extremely unlikely to see them!
One final consideration - are you excluding fluorescent stones? If so, it's my view you could be missing out some relative bargains, if indeed such things exist in the diamond trade.
The 1.25D above has Strong fluorescence and was 'Absolutely gorgeous' - in the words of the Appraiser, not me. There are so many scare stories about fluorescence (see the dozens of threads on PS) but it seems to me the chances of it causing problems for you in reality are very slim indeed and you can often get a stone that looks a colour grade higher in the right light for significantly less than you'd pay for a faint / negligible fluorescent equivalent.
Of course, whether you want to take that small risk, or any others for that matter, and make a decision without have all the evidence presented to you in advance from the specialist super ideal vendors is something only you can decide. Good luck with the search anyway!

 

[MillieLou]

I've just bought a ring from Blue Nile UK, delivered mid-Jan (so after the new Brexit rules came in).

The 20% VAT is added at the time of purchase (in fact the prices you see on the BN UK website include VAT so there are no extra charges at checkout). There are no additional custom charges to pay to receive the ring, and no extra credit card charges. It's all built into the cost of the piece I'm sure, but what you see is what you pay.

I love the ring and the diamond is certainly better quality at a better price than I could hope to get locally. I bought the cheapest possible ring setting - it's basic but surprisingly nicely designed and I am very happy with it.

However, do be aware that, as a previous poster said, BN returns in the UK (including returns for repair, and returns for service) are NOT free. It is £40-£45 for the Fedex return label, PLUS separate shipping insurance for 6 USD per 1000 USD value. So to return a 9000 USD ring will cost you about £90. This applies even for warranty repairs (although they do the repairs and service / checking etc for free, including rhodium plating etc where applicable). I have another thread as a couple of the prongs are a bit catchy - a minor irritation that I'm sure would take a local jeweller a few minutes to fix - but I am not spending £70 and going through the hassle and risk and shipping for it.

So, while I do recommend BN as a UK buyer, just keep the above in mind. There are advantages to be had from a locally made setting though it will inevitably cost much more - you have to weigh up the pros and cons.

I would say that BN customer service is excellent on the whole.

 

[gerryb92]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond already. It really did make my day to come back and see so many thorough replies! Let me work through them individually...

Hey Gerry, take a look at Layla diamonds and the London jeweler (Dovi) on IG. I contacted both when working on my upgrade and both were prompt to reply and being UK based you wouldn't have any customs issues etc... I didn't end up going with either as I went a different direction (lab diamond) but from my interactions with them it seems that they can source whatever spec you are after (particularly the London jeweler), they represented good value for money and have large followings with good reviews. Worth taking a look anyway as might be a good fit for you! Hope this helps, keep us posted!

Great, thanks for this tip. I'll definitely have a look at both of these sources!

Don’t forget you’ll pay import duty on anything purchased from the US.

Yes - thank you! I believe that there is no duty on loose diamonds, and an additional 4% on both the diamond and setting if you choose to order it together.

İd go with JA over BlueNile and WF over them both BGD seems to have alright stuff aswell
İ ended up going with JannPaul the selection process with them is amazing i felt like i was in store next to them
3+ hour video call on the computer examining the stones with asets, led lights this that very transparent.
İ recommend checking them out they will find something for your budget

Thank you, I've watched loads of JannPaul videos online, so I'm definitely happy to check them out. It's great to know you had a positive experience! Are you UK based? (Not that it makes much difference!) I know they're currently having issues with super ideal supply - as are the rest of the world by the looks of it.

You could look at Durham Rose. They are in the U.K. and supply Crafted by Infinity diamonds, which are superideals. They can also design a setting for you. They are pretty well set up to do online consultations at present. Otherwise I’d have no hesitation buying from Whiteflash, I’ve done it myself for a pendant stone.

Only you can decide if a superideal is worth it or not. It is hard to buy sight unseen, I agree. You have picked nice proportions on that BN stone above. Personally I would consider going as low as H colour, and the IF clarity is overkill, you are paying for something you can’t see. G/H VS2, maybe Si1 will be fine.

PS when looking at prices in dollars I just assume that will be the price in pounds after all the extra taxes are added!

An example, though there are several other choices,

Diamond | 1.030 ct H VS2 A CUT ABOVE® Hearts and Arrows Super Ideal Round Cut Loose Diamond AGS Certified | 4292681

This Whiteflash A CUT ABOVE® super ideal cut hearts and arrows 1.030 carat H color VS2 clarity loose diamond is graded by the American Gem Society (AGS) Laboratories. | 4292681

www.whiteflash.com

Thanks, I'll investigate Durham Rose. It's very difficult to know whether a super ideal is worth it or not without seeing them in person (and there is nowhere decent locally to see diamonds - even more so at the moment with lockdown) - but from seeing them in JannPaul videos among others against typical GIA XXX stones, I'd say they could be worth it.

Totally agree that IF clarity is overkill, but I guess I linked that stone in particular to show that you CAN get larger, better clarity characteristics etc for the same money as on BGD etc. Also nervous that even with nice proportions I'm buying it sight unseen with all the info (ASET, Indealscope etc.)

Thanks for the WF recommendation too, I'd looked at these guys originally and will reconsider.

Dollar prices to Sterling - good tip, when I've worked out the VAT and duty etc it appears to be approx equal as you said.

OP, I purchased from WF in December and it was fairly simple, despite my reservations (first time purchase from this vendor, overseas etc). I too preferred the CC option (I felt it would give me more protection with my above concerns). In the end I did the wire transfer. It cost £8 for my bank to process and the funds were received by WF within 24hrs. The CC charges were going to be higher with a less favourable exchange rate (though the bank exchange rate was also poor). The shipping was seamless with the product arriving in less than 48 hours. I have also bought from Blue Nile, their shipping is free but returns are not (cost around £40 - something to be aware of). Good luck with your search.

Good to know the charges were so low on bank wire. I'd preferred credit card for reasons similar to yours. Find it bizarre they won't accept a UK mastercard - wonder why? Out of interest, was your wire from a UK bank?

CBIs can also be sourced from Diamondhouse of Antwerp - they have an office in London.

I bought my 1.19ct EC from them, selected in person at the office in Antwerp back in 2005, and visited their London office for a quick consultation about my mum's 1.96ct MRB.

Very nice people.

DK

Thanks - another source I hadn't checked out until now.

OP, I purchased from BN in December (delivery in January) and it was no problem at all.
The price shown, if you select the 'Ship to UK / Price in £' options is the end of the story. Though, contrary to what was my belief too, the diamonds appeared to come directly from Seattle to the UPS base in the UK, rather than via ROI. Two very nice .8+ diamonds for earrings turned up and look great.
I've also purchased from JA previously with some success. At that time I had a 1.25DVS2 diamond appraised in the US before being sent to UK - to avoid any 'Returns' aggravation - though I'm not sure that option is still available. Maybe someone can advise.
Anyway, the result was an outstanding performer, extremely close to H&A and with top numbers for all measurable characteristics. The H&A cut was just a fluke of course, but I think if you look carefully at the pics of the diamonds on the various sites and go off the proportions recommended here for 'Super ideals' you will be very likely to get a great diamond.
I've just ordered another stone from JA too. Although it's not here yet, the process appears to be going very smoothly and it should ship in the next day or so. 23% or so to add to the prices on the site for VAT and ID remember - and there's a Duty Calculator right at the bottom of their web page. Incidentally, they provided an IS image too when I asked about a specific stone, which might go some way to helping you decide if you've made a good choice.
I agree with a previous post about lowering your clarity levels for better value.
Personally, VVS2 - VS2 preferred though VS2 can have some less than 'Mind clean' inclusions (for me at least) even if you're extremely unlikely to see them!
One final consideration - are you excluding fluorescent stones? If so, it's my view you could be missing out some relative bargains, if indeed such things exist in the diamond trade.
The 1.25D above has Strong fluorescence and was 'Absolutely gorgeous' - in the words of the Appraiser, not me. There are so many scare stories about fluorescence (see the dozens of threads on PS) but it seems to me the chances of it causing problems for you in reality are very slim indeed and you can often get a stone that looks a colour grade higher in the right light for significantly less than you'd pay for a faint / negligible fluorescent equivalent.
Of course, whether you want to take that small risk, or any others for that matter, and make a decision without have all the evidence presented to you in advance from the specialist super ideal vendors is something only you can decide. Good luck with the search anyway!

Hello, thanks for sharing your experiences with BN and JA. As stated above with clarity, it was to show the difference in diamond characteristics achievable if not shipping H&A diamond from the US (not necessarily what I'm looking for).

I've also not ruled out fluorescence in stones either, in fact I think it may be nice as you suggest. I've looked at 2 BGD stones just over 1 carat in the BGD Blue collection, H colour.

I've just bought a ring from Blue Nile UK, delivered mid-Jan (so after the new Brexit rules came in).

The 20% VAT is added at the time of purchase (in fact the prices you see on the BN UK website include VAT so there are no extra charges at checkout). There are no additional custom charges to pay to receive the ring, and no extra credit card charges. It's all built into the cost of the piece I'm sure, but what you see is what you pay.

I love the ring and the diamond is certainly better quality at a better price than I could hope to get locally. I bought the cheapest possible ring setting - it's basic but surprisingly nicely designed and I am very happy with it.

However, do be aware that, as a previous poster said, BN returns in the UK (including returns for repair, and returns for service) are NOT free. It is £40-£45 for the Fedex return label, PLUS separate shipping insurance for 6 USD per 1000 USD value. So to return a 9000 USD ring will cost you about £90. This applies even for warranty repairs (although they do the repairs and service / checking etc for free, including rhodium plating etc where applicable). I have another thread as a couple of the prongs are a bit catchy - a minor irritation that I'm sure would take a local jeweller a few minutes to fix - but I am not spending £70 and going through the hassle and risk and shipping for it.

So, while I do recommend BN as a UK buyer, just keep the above in mind. There are advantages to be had from a locally made setting though it will inevitably cost much more - you have to weigh up the pros and cons.

I would say that BN customer service is excellent on the whole.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm surprised that there is no duty, I'm not sure how they're getting around this? Did you order it prior to brexit, and only have it delivered afterwards perhaps? Not having any duty to pay, plus the ability to take CC (which is my preferred option), gives BN a significant advantage over other vendors I've looked at so far. Thanks for the heads up on the returns cost too.

 

[Tartansparkles]

"was your wire from a UK bank?", Yes, from a UK bank.

 

[MrsDiamondHeart]

We ordered from BN to the UK in January and like the PP, paid VAT upfront. No import duty.

 

[magpie2]

OP
I'd advise caution on your assumption that there is no duty on loose diamonds coming into the UK from the US. There is. I'm expecting a phone call from Fedex to tell me just how much they want when my JA diamond arrives. Furthermore, I believe BN aren't 'getting around' anything to do with duties, they just build it into the price shown on their site when it's coming to the UK and pay them on your behalf, whereas JA don't which makes value comparisons between those two suppliers a little more difficult. However, I think you may have a point with there being a difference between set jewellery and loose diamonds. It's my understanding that the difference is you don't pay the import duty - just the VAT for set pieces.
I'd recommend a quick chat with BN / JA to confirm matters for you.

 

[gerryb92]

OP
I'd advise caution on your assumption that there is no duty on loose diamonds coming into the UK from the US. There is. I'm expecting a phone call from Fedex to tell me just how much they want when my JA diamond arrives. Furthermore, I believe BN aren't 'getting around' anything to do with duties, they just build it into the price shown on their site when it's coming to the UK and pay them on your behalf, whereas JA don't which makes value comparisons between those two suppliers a little more difficult. However, I think you may have a point with there being a difference between set jewellery and loose diamonds. It's my understanding that the difference is you don't pay the import duty - just the VAT for set pieces.
I'd recommend a quick chat with BN / JA to confirm matters for you.

Thanks for your response. It's all very confusing, but my understanding was as follows:

Loose diamonds for jewellery fall under commodity code 71 02 39 00 00, which makes them eligible for 20% VAT and 0% duty.

Diamond rings fall under commodity code 71 13 20 00 00, which makes them eligible for 20% VAT and 4% duty.

Gov.uk Trade Tarriff

I could of course be horribly wrong - please let me know what your experiences are in reality - it would be so much appreciated.

 

[gerryb92]

OP
I'd advise caution on your assumption that there is no duty on loose diamonds coming into the UK from the US. There is. I'm expecting a phone call from Fedex to tell me just how much they want when my JA diamond arrives. Furthermore, I believe BN aren't 'getting around' anything to do with duties, they just build it into the price shown on their site when it's coming to the UK and pay them on your behalf, whereas JA don't which makes value comparisons between those two suppliers a little more difficult. However, I think you may have a point with there being a difference between set jewellery and loose diamonds. It's my understanding that the difference is you don't pay the import duty - just the VAT for set pieces.
I'd recommend a quick chat with BN / JA to confirm matters for you.

Update... I've just checked the JA Tax and Duty calculator, it appears that loose diamonds do not carry any duty as expected - so you may be on to a winner!

Also - it appears the rate on a ring with diamond set is 2.5%, not 4% as I'd estimated.

G

 

[MillieLou]

Yes, I expect Blue Nile will be building whatever duty is due into the price of the ring when selling to the UK. I just mean that you don't need to be calculating an extra percentage on top of what shows at the checkout when you put the item in your basket, whereas you do have to do that when you buy from the US (as the taxes will be paid by you when you receive the item rather than collected by the vendor). You can try it with a random build your own ring and get up to checkout, and see what it shows.

Or give them a ring, they are really helpful. I'd suggest doing it during working hours so you get a BN UK employee who knows the ins and outs, rather than the US customer service team (who are also lovely but may not be able to give you a definitive answer).

 

[TripEx]

Thanks for your response. It's all very confusing, but my understanding was as follows:

Loose diamonds for jewellery fall under commodity code 71 02 39 00 00, which makes them eligible for 20% VAT and 0% duty.

Diamond rings fall under commodity code 71 13 20 00 00, which makes them eligible for 20% VAT and 4% duty.

Gov.uk Trade Tarriff

I could of course be horribly wrong - please let me know what your experiences are in reality - it would be so much appreciated.

Hey mate im not in the UK i am in Australia.
İ think they will have a vast range still and you dont need many many stones you are after 1.
They showed me 2 stones which were both amazing as approved by the experts here.
İ will defenitley atleast have a virtual consultation with JannPaul i booked with Eugene who is easy to understand clear and honest as the stone he said recommended me was also the one favoured by PS members.

 

[phantom10905]

Just want to say that I went through all this myself - from knowing nothing 2 weeks ago to knowing a bit more after reading all the forums and advice I could find.

I also ended up going with BN because they're in Europe, but then agonized while my stone was shipping as to why I didn't go with a perfect whiteflash diamond instead. Well, I got the ring today and it has all the sparkle and fire and none of the black spots that one gets warned about in videos. So I am quite happy. I of course have nothing to compare it to, so maybe the perfect hearts and arrows are indeed better.

But I doubt that they are much better. I reason that if they really were much better, there would be many online videos comparing a perfect H&A to really good GIA XXX diamonds, like those that that one could get from BN by following standard advice like here https://niceice.com/blue-nile-diamond-search-vs-build-your-own-ring/

There certainly are a lot of videos comparing H&A to some GIA XXX and one can definitely see the difference, but those are usually really bad GIA XXX. So I figured that there probably isn't much difference between a correctly chosen ideal and a superideal - if there were, they would certainly advertise it! It's probably one of those things where you really have to be a connoisseur to see the difference; and I don't plan on becoming one. For additional peace of mind, I also checked my stone's score here, and it did pretty well (https://www.stonealgo.com/), so I have no regrets.

Anyway, just wanted to say that us regular people should probably not overthink it too much.

 

[Izzy70]

I am in Guernsey and have a WF ACA in a pendant and it’s a sparkle bomb, I very often get people staring at my neck!
I also have a loose WF ACA that arrived with no duty to pay, its currently waiting for lockdown to lift so the jeweller can continue with the custom setting
I helped a work colleague with an engagement ring from WF and it’s a million times better and a much better price that what could have been found locally.
I oaid via HSBC online bank transfer and I am pretty sure there was no charge and if there was it was under £10 for sure.

 

[TripEx]

Transferwise gives the best rate imo

 

[gerryb92]

Transferwise gives the best rate imo

This is an excellent tip, thank you.

 

[gerryb92]

I think I'm leaning towards BGD. I get a nice feeling about their diamonds that I just cant get with Blue Nile (even if Blue Nile have many other benefits).

Which one would everybody choose from the following options and why:

1.) https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/0.90-g-vvs2-round-diamond-ags-104085573026

2.) https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/1.022-h-vvs2-round-diamond-ags-cbl-104107285029

3.) https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/1.006-h-vvs2-round-diamond-ags-cbl-104107285028

I'd say my own personal priorities are as follows:

Light Performance
Cut
Colour/Clarity
Carat

I know there isn't much difference between 0.9 and 1 Carat, but I'm concerned that choosing a 6 prong setting (although I like it) will make the main stone appear quite small. What do you think?

This is the setting I've got in mind at the moment:

https://www.briangavindiamonds.com/...-and-side-stones/six-prong-fishtail-pave-5509

Once again thank you everyone for your help and support - very much appreciated!

G

 

[Double E]

Congratulations for your engagement in advance and welcome to PS^^

I followed this thread and is surprised you are now leaning more towards a US vendor. Of course not to say it’s right or wrong, as every body has talked about the pros and cons of both ways.

I was a customer of BGD, and do believe you could really be confident about their diamonds. I think if you want to save a bit, and are able to appreciate the colour difference between G and H, 0.9 ct Could be the choice. It’s actually at a very nice and rare size just under 1ct. My wife has a BGD stone of very very similar spec and proportions and it’s just beautiful and so pleasing to look at.

On the other hand, the other two do offer a slightly larger face up size. However, I will say this could be hard to notice if they are not side by side.

I also don’t think you have anything to worry about all three stones’ clarity being VVS2.

 

[Snowdrop13]

The links don’t work, for some reason. Is it important to either of you to be able to say “it’s a one carat” when people ask? Might be something to consider.

Also, this will probably not be an issue, ever, but it’s worth pointing out that Whiteflash have an excellent upgrade policy, should you want to go bigger! Worth checking what BGD have on their diamonds, maybe.

 

[gerryb92]

@Double E I'm leaning towards a US vendor because I can't trust vendors such as Blue Nile to provide a diamond that I like. I feel that I've got a better chance of buying from BGD and getting a stone that meets my expectations. Some other vendors were mentioned in the thread above but I do really like to be able to view the stock online rather than having a online consultation as it's hard to time get away from the SO considering we're locked down due to Covid! Thanks for letting me know about your wifes similar stone - that makes me sway towards the smaller stone (which I think is actually my preference given the better colour).

@Snowdrop13 I guess it would be nice to be able to say "its one carat", but I'd much prefer an extraordinarily cut stone over a larger one. I think when comparing it to larger stones of lesser cut I'd still be happy. I can't say I've given much consideration to the upgrade policies as I know my SO wouldn't want to change this stone given the significance. I think I'd consider this more for future purchases, though. I have considered the shipping costs back and forward for any future resizing and repairs though - and this is still a sore point for me when choosing a US vendor!

Thanks

G

 

[Double E]

Just took a look on BGD, surprisingly found this:

0.972 G SI1 Signature Round

Buy diamonds online - AGS Graded 0.972 carat G SI1 super ideal cut Brian Gavin Hearts & Arrows Round Cut diamond. Lifetime Upgrade Policy!

www.briangavindiamonds.com

Remains G colour, but extremely close to 1ct for lower price, although I like the proportions of the 0.9 ct G more

And I do suggest to get your most desired stone held first when you are considering. Just in case others grab it.

 

[Snowdrop13]

@Double E I'm leaning towards a US vendor because I can't trust vendors such as Blue Nile to provide a diamond that I like. I feel that I've got a better chance of buying from BGD and getting a stone that meets my expectations. Some other vendors were mentioned in the thread above but I do really like to be able to view the stock online rather than having a online consultation as it's hard to time get away from the SO considering we're locked down due to Covid! Thanks for letting me know about your wifes similar stone - that makes me sway towards the smaller stone (which I think is actually my preference given the better colour).

@Snowdrop13 I guess it would be nice to be able to say "its one carat", but I'd much prefer an extraordinarily cut stone over a larger one. I think when comparing it to larger stones of lesser cut I'd still be happy. I can't say I've given much consideration to the upgrade policies as I know my SO wouldn't want to change this stone given the significance. I think I'd consider this more for future purchases, though. I have considered the shipping costs back and forward for any future resizing and repairs though - and this is still a sore point for me when choosing a US vendor!

Thanks

G

It’s worth finding a local jeweller for any maintenance required, too hassle-y having to deal with sending back to the US!